[Assessment of erythropoietin treatment in preterm newborns older than 30 weeks of gestation].

BACKGROUND

Human recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO) has shown a benefit in reducing the number of transfusions in very-low-birth-weight infants. However, no study has reported benefits in older preterms (i.e., 30-32 weeks of gestation [WG]). This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of rhEPO between 30 and 32 WG.

METHODS

Two groups of preterms between 30 and 32 WG were compared in a retrospective study: period 1 with rhEPO (January 2005 to October 2006) and period 2 without rhEPO (November 2006 to May 2007). Newborns with intra-uterine growth retardation, rhesus isoimmunization or surgical procedures were excluded. The main criterion was the number of blood transfusions; the second criterion was hemoglobin at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of life. Morbidity was evaluated on necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine newborns receiving rhEPO and 19 not receiving rhEPO (controls) were included. The two groups were similar for birth weight (p=0.06) and hemoglobin at birth (p=0.41). Only one child (rhEPO group) needed a transfusion. Hemoglobin at 2 weeks (p=0.74), 4 weeks (p=0.13) and 6 weeks (p=0.35) were not statistically different. There was no difference between the 2 groups for necrotizing enterocolitis, IVH or periventricular leukomalacia.

CONCLUSION

This study did not find any benefit using rhEPO in 30 to 32 WG preterm infants in terms of the number of transfusions or hemoglobin levels.